Hayley Turner grabs second Group One on Margot Did in Coolmore Nunthorpe

Having acquired the taste of success at the highest level, Hayley Turner
wasted no time in registering her second Group One victory, aboard smart
three-year-old filly Margot Did, at 20-1, in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes
at York.

Ladies day: Hayley Turner and the speedy filly Margot Did land the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at YorkPhoto: PA

Hotspur (J A McGrath)

6:31PM BST 19 Aug 2011

Turner had made headlines when producing Dream Ahead late to land Newmarket’s July Cup, her first Group One triumph, but this time she had Margot Did in the firing line all the way on the stands’ side. “This filly has one kick at the finish, but I didn’t have to ask her for it,” she said.

Margot Did, by Exceed And Excel out of Special Dancer, was named after Margot Fonteyn. Turner has remained loyal to the filly, and the owners have reciprocated, even when “things haven’t worked out” in some races, according to the jockey.

“You know, what goes around, comes around. I could have ridden Deacon Blues at Royal Ascot (winner of the Wokingham), but Margot Did was running in a Listed race at Ayr the same day, and I went there instead,” Turner said.

In fact, after the Royal meeting, Deacon Blues has won two more races, but this fine Group One victory more than made up for that, particularly as the filly is trained by Michael Bell, Turner’s loyal backer. Bell had been pleased with Margot Did, but had been of the opinion that three-year-olds faced a tough task in the race.

Hamish McGonagall ran a solid race to finish second, beaten three quarters of a length, while Prohibit was a further half-length away third.

Bell’s horses are in great form so Tactician must be respected in the Ebor, but a wide draw of 20 makes it difficult to give him a strong winning chance. Even over such a long distance, the draw counts for a lot.

Fox Hunt will have to live up to his reputation as one of the best staying handicappers to win with top weight, yet I believe, on testing ground, he is capable of doing so,